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CHAPTER 275
SB 624-FN - FINAL VERSION
03/05/2026 0843s
23Apr2026... 1499h
14May2026... 1846h
06/04/2026 2152EBA
2026 SESSION
26-2219
09/08
SENATE BILL
624-FN
AN ACT
restricting access to certain hemp-derived products and establishing the offenses of criminal adulteration and distribution of adulterated controlled substances.
SPONSORS: Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Rep. Litchfield, Rock. 32; Rep. M. Pearson, Rock. 34; Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Prohibits certain hemp-derived products, directs liquor licensees to comply with the prohibition, and amends the definition of hemp.
II. Establishes the offenses of criminal adulteration and distribution of adulterated controlled substances.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in
bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [
in brackets and struckthrough.
]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/05/2026 0843s
23Apr2026... 1499h
14May2026... 1846h
06/04/2026 2152EBA 26-2219
09/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT
restricting access to certain hemp-derived products and establishing the offenses of criminal adulteration and distribution of adulterated controlled substances.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
275:1 Hemp; Definition. Amend RSA 439-A:2, V to read as follows:
V. "Hemp" means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of the plant, [
whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration (THC) of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis
]
including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a total tetrahydrocannabinols concentration (including tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis
.
275:2 Hemp; Prohibitions. Amend RSA 439-A:4 to read as follows:
439-A:4 Hemp-Derived Products Containing THC Prohibited.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize the sale of products that are derived from hemp which contain natural or synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) greater than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis, which appear in any formulation, including delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC,
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA),
or any other THC isomer variant.
Such products are prohibited.
275
:
3
Premises Restrictions; Unlawful Purpose. Amend RSA 179:50 to read as follows:
179:50 Unlawful Purpose.
I.
No licensee shall use, or allow to be used, his or her premises for any purpose contrary to law.
II. All licensees shall comply with the provisions of RSA 439-A:4 relative to certain hemp-derived products containing THC prohibited.
275
:
4 New Paragraph; Prohibited Sales. Amend RSA 179:5 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:
III. No licensee, salesperson, nor any other person, shall sell or give away or cause or allow or procure to be sold, delivered, or given away any product derived from hemp which contains natural or synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in any amount, which appear in any formulation, including delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC, or any other THC isomer variant or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), to a person under the age of 21.
275:5
Legislative Findings. With respect to section 6 of this act, the general court finds that:
I. The presence of unapproved substances in the illicit drug supply poses an immediate and severe threat to the health and safety of the citizens of New Hampshire.
II. The state of New Hampshire currently provides widespread access to harm-reduction testing resources.
III. The intentional adulteration of controlled substances with unapproved additives demonstrates a reckless disregard for human life.
IV. The distribution of controlled substances without verification of contents, given the availability of testing resources, constitutes a significant public safety hazard warranting enhanced penalties.
275:6 New Section; Criminal Adulteration and Distribution of Adulterated Controlled Substances. Amend RSA 318-B by inserting after section 2-e the following new section:
318-B:2-f Criminal Adulteration and Distribution of Adulterated Controlled Substances.
I. A person is guilty of a class B felony if they knowingly combine, mix, or adulterate a controlled substance with any substance not approved for human consumption, with the intent to distribute the resulting mixture. The state may establish intent through the presence of processing equipment, including but not limited to, scales, cutting agents, blenders, presses, or the simultaneous possession of a controlled substance and an unapproved additive in a manufacturing context.
II. A person is guilty of a class A felony if they possess with intent to distribute, or distribute, any controlled substance which they know or have reasonable cause to believe contains an unapproved additive. For the purposes of this section, "reasonable cause to believe" includes the failure to utilize accessible harm-reduction testing resources or the distribution of substances in a market known to be contaminated with unapproved additives.
III. The penalties provided for in this section shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other penalties or offenses provided for under this chapter or any other provision of law, and shall not be construed to limit the state's authority to prosecute any other applicable criminal offense.
275:7 New Paragraph; Unlawful Purpose; Hemp-Derived Products. Amend RSA 179:50 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:
V. All licensees shall comply with the provisions of RSA 439-A:4 relative to certain hemp-derived products containing THC prohibited.
275:8 Contingency. If HB 1630 of the 2026 regular legislative session becomes law, section 3 of this act shall not take effect and section 7 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2027. If HB 1630 of the 2026 regular legislative session does not become law, section 3 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2027 and section 7 of this act shall not take effect.
275:9 Effective Date.
I. Sections 3 and 7 of this act shall take effect as provided in section 8 of this act.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
Approved: July 02, 2026
Effective Date:
I. Sections 3 & 7 effective as provided in section 8
II. Remainder effective January 1, 2027